Arkansas Highway 242

Highway 242
Route information
Maintained by AHTD
Length: 14.74 mi[1] (23.72 km)
Major junctions
South end: Hwy. 44 south of Helena-West Helena
  U.S. 49, Helena-West Helena
U.S. 49B, Helena-West Helena
North end: Hwy. 1 west of Lexa
Location
Counties: Phillips
Highway system

Arkansas Highway System
Interstates • US • State
Business • Spurs • Scenic

← Hwy. 241 Hwy. 243 →

Arkansas Highway 242 (AR 242, Hwy. 242) is an east–west state highway in Phillips County, Arkansas. The route of 14.74 miles (23.72 km) runs from Highway 44 near Helena-West Helena north through the city and through the St. Francis National Forest to Highway 1 near Lexa.[2] A segment of the route is part of the Mississippi River Trail, essentially a bicycle-friendly version of the Great River Road.[3]

Contents

Route description

Highway 242 begins at Highway 44 south of Helena-West Helena and runs north to enter the city. The route intersects US 49 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive[4]), a four-lane divided highway, at an at-grade intersection in the south part of the city. Highway 242 continues east to intersect Highway 185 before turning due north toward the center of town. The route forms a concurrency with US 49B for 0.1 miles (0.16 km) along Plaza Avenue.[2] The route then turns north becoming 4th Street and passes the Denison House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Exiting Helena-West Helena, Highway 242 continues north to intersect Highway 185 and enter the St. Francis National Forest. The route intersects its only spur route in the forest prior to curving due west to Lexa. Serving as 1st Street in Lexa the highway passes the post office before terminating at Highway 1 just west of Lexa.

Beginning from the end of the US 49B concurrency to Highway 1, the route is designated as part of the Mississippi River Trail, a 3,000 miles (4,800 km) bike trail from New Orleans to Minnesota along the Mississippi River.[3]

Major intersections

Mile markers reset at concurrencies.

The entire route is in Phillips County.

Location Mile[1] Destinations Notes
  0.00 Hwy. 44 eastern terminus
Helena-West Helena 3.08 U.S. 49 (Martin Luther King Jr Drive)
3.32 Hwy. 185 south (Stringtown Road)
4.59 U.S. 49B north (Sebastian Street)
U.S. 49B concurrency east 0.1 miles (0.16 km)
0.00 U.S. 49B south (Plaza Avenue)
1.75 Hwy. 185 south
  2.19 Hwy. 242S north
  10.15 Hwy. 1 western terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Spur route

Storm Creek Road
Location: Huntsville
Length: 0.11 mi[1] (0.18 km)

Arkansas Highway 242 Spur (AR 242S, Hwy. 242S, or Storm Creek Road) is a spur route in the St. Francis National Forest. It is 0.11 miles (0.18 km) in length.

References

  1. ^ a b c Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database" (Database). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/technical_services/databases/Road%20Log%20Database.zip. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. General Highway Map (Map) (Phillips County ed.). http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/PhillipsCounty.pdf. Retrieved July 15, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Mississippi River Trail, Inc.. Southern Mississippi River Trail (Map) (Southern section ed.). http://www.imtrails.com/mrtsouthern/. Retrieved July 15, 2011. 
  4. ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Map of Helena-West Helena, Phillips County (Map) (January 2006 ed.). http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/54hele_west.tif. Retrieved July 15, 2011. 

External links